Open roof construction for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof comprises a stationary part for attachment to the roof, having stationary guide rails on either side of the roof opening and slidable slides with operating mechanisms therein. A closure means supported by the operating mechanisms is adjustable between a closed position in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position in which it releases the roof opening at least partially. Each operating mechanism comprises a curve plate attached to the closure means and having a guide track with which a guide member connected to the slide may engage. The slide includes a height-adjustable part which is equipped with the guide member being in engagement with a further guide track in a curve part connected to the stationary part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C 371 andhereby claims priority of PCT/NL99/00469, filed Jul. 20, 1999 andpublished in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle havingan opening in the fixed roof, comprising a stationary part forattachment to the roof, having stationary guide rails on either side ofthe roof opening and slidable slides with operating mechanisms, aclosure means supported by the operating mechanisms, which is adjustablebetween a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and anopen position, in which it releases the roof opening at least partially,wherein each operating mechanism comprises a curve plate attached to theclosure means and having a guide track with which a guide memberconnected to the slide is in engagement.

Open roof constructions of this kind are already known, for example fromDE-A-39 30 756 and DE-A-36 03 314. These known roof constructionscomprise a lifting lever which converts movement of the slide intovertical movement of the closure means. By means of said lifting leverthe vertical movement of the closure means is magnified in comparisonwith panels wherein a fixed pin moves in a slot in the curve plate andthus adjusts the closure means in vertical direction. The lifting levercannot support the panel independently without being loaded in flexure,which makes it sensitive to forces being exerted on the panel, which mayin turn lead to play. In principle, the guide track of the curve plateon the panel itself does not contribute towards the vertical movement ofthe closure means.

DE-C-39 08 645 discloses an open roof construction wherein the liftinglever is guided by an additional guide pin, which is disposed betweenthe two ends of the lifting lever. The use of such a guided liftinglever makes it possible to achieve a lower overall height of theoperating mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved open roofconstruction of the kind mentioned in the introduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to accomplish that objective, the open roof constructionaccording to the invention is characterized in that the slide includes aheight-adjustable part which is equipped with the guide member, andwhich is in engagement with a further guide track having a verticalcomponent in a curve part connected to the stationary part.

A significant advantage of this is the fact that the electric motor willmaintain a constant number of revolutions while adjusting the panel,which makes the mechanism sound reliable and which produces the leastamount of noise. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on theoperational life of the motor. In parts of the path of movement of thepanel where the resistance is relatively high, for example when thepanel is moved through the closed position, a larger transmission ratiowill be selected temporarily, as a result of which the panel will movemore slowly through this difficult part. The occupants of the vehiclewill hardly notice this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with referenceto the drawings, which schematically show embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views of the embodiment ofthe open roof construction according to the invention in three differentpositions thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the main parts of theoperating mechanism of the open roof construction of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the mechanism of FIG. 4,showing the mechanism in positions corresponding to those shown in FIGS.1-3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of anoperating mechanism for an open roof construction according to theinvention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view, wherein the parts of the mechanism of FIG. 8are shown separately.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Comparable parts in the various embodiments are indicated by the samereference numerals, preceded by the number one hundred. The open roofconstruction as shown in the drawings forms the subject matter offurther patent applications of the same date, whose contents areconsidered to be incorporated herein by reference.

The drawings, and in the first instance FIGS. 1-3, show an embodiment ofthe open roof construction according to the invention, which is builtinto a vehicle whose fixed roof 1 is provided with a roof opening 2. Theopen roof construction comprises a frame 3 or different stationary part,which can be attached to the fixed roof 1. Said frame supports, in amanner yet to be described in more detail, a closure means 4, which iscapable of selectively closing the roof opening 2 or releasing it atleast partially.

In the illustrated embodiment, the open roof construction is in the formof a so-called sliding-tilting roof, wherein the closure means 4 is arigid panel, which can on the one hand be moved from the closed positionin the roof opening 2 (FIG. 2) to a ventilating (FIG. 1) position, inwhich it slopes upwards, and which can on the other hand be moveddownwards and subsequently rearwards from said closed position to aposition under fixed roof 1 (FIG. 3).

In order to make said movements possible, panel 4 is provided on eitherside with an operating mechanism, one of which is shown in the drawings,whereby it should be understood, however, that the same mechanism isprovided in mirror symmetry therewith at the other longitudinal edge ofpanel 4. The operating mechanisms are accommodated in guide rails 5,which are mounted on frame 3 or integrated therein and which extend oneither side of roof opening 2 and rearwards thereof under fixed roof 1.Each operating mechanism is driven by a slide 6 (see FIGS. 4-7), whichis guided in guide rail 5 and which can be moved in guide rail 5 bymeans of a pull-push cable (not shown) or other connecting element whichis connected to driving means such as an electric motor, a hand crank orthe like.

Mounted on slide 6 is a height-adjustable part, in the form of an arm 7in this embodiment, which is connected to slide 6 by means of ahorizontal, transversely extending pivot 8. Arm 7 extends in rearwarddirection from pivot 8 on slide 7. Arm 7 of slide 6 is provided at itsend remote from said pivot with a first guide member in the form of aguide pin 9, which is in engagement with a guide track in the form of aguide slot 10 formed in a curve plate 11 which is mounted on theunderside of panel 4 and which extends in the longitudinal directionthereof.

On the front side, curve plate 11 is provided with a horizontal,transversely extending pivot 12, by means of which panel 4 can pivotabout its front side. Pivot 12 is supported near the front side of acurve slide 13 yet to be described in more detail. The hole in the curveplate 11 through which the pivot pin of pivot 12 extends is slightlyelongated so as to allow movement of pivot 12 in longitudinal directionupon pivoting of panel 4, whereby said movement in longitudinaldirection is determined by a connecting arm 14, which is pivotallyconnected to curve slide 13 and curve plate 11.

Besides guide pin 9, arm 7 also comprises a second guide member in theform of a guide pin 15, which is of double construction in the presentembodiment, which is in engagement with two parallel guide slots 16 incurve slide 13, which function as guide tracks. Guide slots 10 and 16are in essence equally long, whilst they are furthermore positioned atleast substantially above each other, extending at substantially thesame inclination, albeit in opposite directions. As can be seen in FIGS.4-7, curve slide 13 is of U-shaped cross-section, with the legs of saidU extending symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis, each legbeing provided with a guide slot. 16. The mutual distance between saidlegs of curve slide 13 is selected so that curve plate 11 fitstherebetween, and curve plate 11 and curve slide 13 and also guide slots10, 16 thereof can overlap partially upon pivoting of curve plate 11under the influence of the movement of guide pin 9 of arm 7 throughguide slot 10.

Guide pins 9 and 15 are spaced a small vertical distance apart, andtogether with pivot 8 they form a triangle of forces which is capable ofproviding very stable support for panel 4. The arrangement of guide pins9 and 15 (a connecting line extends substantially perpendicularly topanel 4 in every position) enables a practically direct transmission offorces on panel 4 to the guide rail via arm 7, without any significantflexural forces being exerted thereon. Guide pins 9 and 15 couldcoincide, if desired.

As is shown in FIGS. 4-7, curve slide 13 is provided with sliding shoes17, via which curve slide 13 can be moved in guide rail 5. Curve slide13 is only moved for the purpose of moving panel 4 rearwards to aposition under fixed roof 1, during other movements of panel 4 invertical direction curve slide 13 must remain stationary and slide 6must move with respect to curve slide 13. Slide 6 and curve slide 13will move as one unit when panel 4 is moved in rearward direction.

Special locking means are provided for locking and releasing curve slide13, which locking means are shown in particular in FIG. 4. As saidfigure shows, a locking member 18 is provided near the rear end of curveslide 13. Said locking member 18 comprises a locking cam 19, which ispivotally connected to curve slide 13 by means of a springing body 20. Atransversely extending water drain 21, which is mounted above curveslide 13 and which moves along with curve slide 13, acts on springingbody 20 and loads locking cam 19 in downward direction. In the extremeforward position of curve slide 13, locking cam 19 can come intoengagement with a recess (not shown) formed in guide rail 5, in order tolock curve slide 13 with respect to guide rail 5 and release the lockingengagement or connection between curve slide 13 and slide 6.

For this latter purpose, locking member 18 is provided on either sideabove locking cam 19 with connecting pins 22, which can mate with forks23 present at the rear end of arm 7 of slide 6. Said forks 23 eachpossess a connecting slot 24 comprising a first entry portion and anconnecting portion, which slopes upwards in forward direction, albeitbarely noticeably, which on the one hand functions as a wedge forlifting locking cam 19 out of the locking recesses in guide rail 5 uponmovement through the connecting portion of connecting slot 24. On theother hand, coupling pins 22 are retained in the connecting portion ofconnecting slot 24 when locking cam 19 has moved out of the lockingrecess in guide rail 5 and locking cam 19 is retained in verticaldirection, and also in horizontal direction, with respect to arm 7.

The operation of the illustrated operating mechanism of the open roofconstruction according to the invention will now be explained in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7.

FIGS. 2 and 6 show panel 4 in the closed position, and in FIG. 2 theguide pins 9 and 15 are positioned in relatively horizontal portions ofguide slots 10 and 16. This implies that panel 4 is moved relativelyslowly at a large transmission ratio upon movement of guide pins 9, 15through their associated guide slots 10, 16. The reason for this is thatthe resistance is relatively high in this part of the path of movementof panel 4, in particular because the seal 25 surrounding panel 4 isclamped in position in roof opening 2. In spite of this resistance theload exerted on the driving motor as a result of the resistance of theoperating mechanism is not large, due to the large transmission ratio,so that the driving motor can move slide 6 without any problem.

When slide 6 is moved forward from the position as shown in FIG. 2, arm7 is pulled forward and guide pins 9 and 15 are moved forward throughtheir associated guide slots 10 and 16. Curve plate 11 of panel 4 andcurve slide 13 are wedged apart, as it were, whereby the maximumventilating position is reached in FIG. 1. Guide pins 9 and 15 arepresent at the front end of the associated guide slots 10, 16 in thisposition. The point of engagement between arm 7 and panel 4 ispositioned a relatively large distance away from pivot 12 on the frontside of panel 4 in this position, so that a stable support of panel 4 isprovided and a relatively short portion of panel 4 is unsupported. Thus,relatively large forces on panel 4 can be resisted without any risk ofvibrations or the like. The direct transmission of forces from panel 4to frame 3 also contributes thereto.

During the forward movement of slide 6 from the position as shown inFIG. 2 to the position as shown in FIG. 1, arm 7 has pivoted about pivot8 because guide pin 9 has moved upwards through guide slot 10 withrespect to slide 6. The pivoting movement of panel 4 is caused both bythe manner in which the two guide slots 10 and 16 extend and by themovement of guide pins 9, 15 in the direction of the front pivot 12 ofpanel 4. The guide slots 10 and 16 thereby extend in such a manner thatno leverage is required in order to obtain sufficient lifting heightafter all. As a rule, the slope at which the guide slots 10, 16 extendwill be slightly greater in that case.

In FIG. 3, the arm has moved rearwards from the closed position as shownin FIG. 2, guide pins 9 and 15 have moved to the rear end of theirassociated guide slots 10 and 16, and panel 4 has pivoted maximallydownwards about pivot 12. In this position curve plate 11 and curveslide 13, and also guide slots 10, 16, overlap to a significant degree,because curve plate 11 has been moved between the legs of U-shaped curveslide 13. As a result of this overlap, panel 4 can be moved to aposition quite close to guide rail 5 of frame 3, as a result of whichthe overall height of the open roof construction can be very low, thusminimizing the loss of headroom in the interior of the vehicle. The rearportion of guide slots 10, 16 is so shaped that the panel will first bemoved slowly, then quickly and subsequently slowly again upon constantmovement of slide 6.

During the last part of the movement of slide 6 to the positionaccording to FIG. 3, locking cam 19 is lifted from the locking recess inguide rail 5 by the connecting slots 24 in forks 23, and connecting pins22 move through connecting slots 24 and are eventually locked in thesloping part of said connecting slots 24. After a slight rearwardmovement of curve slide 13, which is made possible by releasing thelocking engagement by locking cam 19, locking cam 19 is locked invertical direction by guide rail 5 and a connection is made betweenslide 6 and curve slide 13 due to the fact that connecting pins 22 areretained in the sloping part of connecting slots 24, so that slide 6 andcurve slide 13 move as one unit. Because connecting pins 22 engage inforks 23 of arm 7, panel 4, too, is locked against upward movement.Water drain 21 exerts a downward force on locking cam 19, so that whencurve slide 13 returns to its frontmost position and locking cam 19 ispositioned above the recess in guide rail 5, locking cam 19 willautomatically move into the recess upon further forward movement ofslide 6, due to the downward force of springing body 20.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the operating mechanismaccording to the invention. In this embodiment, guide tracks 110 and 116consist of laterally projecting ribs, whilst guide members 109 and 115are made up of dual cams, which engage round the guide tracks. Bothguide track 110 and guide track 116 are double guide tracks, whereby theribs of guide track 110 extend outwards, whilst the ribs of guide track110 extend towards each other. Curve plate 111 and curve slide 113 areboth made of metal sheet, which has been given the desired shape bymeans of punching and bending operations. Guide tracks 110 and 116 areformed of gated plastic surrounding flanges on the lower edge of curveplate 111 and the upper edge of curve slide 113, respectively. Guidehead 126 on arm 117 engages round curve plate 111 and in curve slide113. In the lowermost position of panel 4, guide track 110 is largelyaccommodated in the curve slide. A tensioning member 127 with springinglips is mounted on guide head 126 in such a manner that said lips areaccommodated between guide track 110 and guide member 109 and betweenguide track 116 and guide member 115 so as to bias said elements withrespect to each other and thus prevent rattling. The slide to which arm107 is connected is not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIGS. 8 and 9 do furthermore show that the front sliding shoe 117 formedon the front end of curve plate 111 also functions as a pivot 112 forpanel 4. To that end, sliding shoe 117 slightly tapers off in forwardand rearward direction from a central portion so as to permit tiltingmovement in the guide rail (not shown).

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides anopen roof construction which on the one hand is remarkable for itssimplicity and small overall height, and which on the other handprovides a stable support and advantageous driving characteristics.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment asshown in the drawing, which can be varied in several ways withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

Thus, the invention can also be used with other types of open roofconstructions, such as lifting roofs, spoiler roofs and other kinds ofroofs comprising panels or other types of single or multiple closuremeans. The height-adjustable part of the slide could also be inengagement with the guide slots of the closure means and the stationarypart via one guide pin or other type of guide member. The guide membersand guide tracks could also be kinetically reversed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An open roof construction for a vehicle having anopening in the fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part for attachmentto the roof, having a stationary guide rail on each side of the roofopening; a slide on each guide rail, each slide having an operatingmechanism; and a closure element supported by the operating mechanisms,which is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes theroof opening and an open position, in which it releases the roof openingat least partially, wherein each operating mechanism comprises a curveplate attached to the closure element and having a first guide trackwith which a guide member connected to the slide is in engagement, atleast along part of the path of movement of the closure element, whereinthe slide includes a height-adjustable part which is equipped with theguide member, and which is also in engagement with a second guide trackhaving a vertical component in a curve part connected to the stationarypart, wherein the height-adjustable part of the slide is provided withan arm which is connected to said slide via a horizontal pivot, whicharm extends rearwards from said slide.
 2. The open roof constructionaccording to claim 1, wherein an electric motor is provided for drivingeach slide and wherein at least one of the guide tracks extends in sucha manner that the load exerted on the electric motor by the operatingmechanism will be at least substantially constant during the entiremovement of the slide.
 3. The open roof construction according to claim1, wherein the curve plate on the closure element and the curve part ofthe stationary part, and the guide tracks thereof, can overlap in avertical direction in lower positions of the closure element.
 4. Theopen roof construction according to claim 1, wherein a second guidemember is formed on the height-adjustable part, which guide member is inengagement with the guide track in the curve part, wherein the two guidemembers are positioned at least substantially above each other, closelytogether, and wherein the guide tracks have at least substantially thesame length.
 5. The open roof construction according to claim 1, whereinthe two guide tracks extend along a path which varies for height andwhich deviates from a straight line.
 6. The open roof constructionaccording to claim 4, wherein the closure element comprises at least onerigid panel which can be pivoted obliquely upwards to a ventilatingposition and which can be moved rearwards to a position under the fixedroof, wherein the guide members occupy their frontmost position on theassociated guide tracks in the ventilating position of the panel.
 7. Anopen roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in the fixedroof, comprising: a stationary part for attachment to the roof, havingat least one stationary guide rail extending along the roof opening; aslide slidable on the guide rail, the slide having an operatingmechanism; and a closure element supported by the operating mechanism,which is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes theroof opening, and an open position, in which it releases the roofopening at least partially, wherein said operating mechanism comprises acurve plate attached to the closure element and having a first guidetrack comprising two laterally extending ribs facing away from eachother with which a guide member connected to the slide is in engagement,at least over part of the path of movement of the closure element,wherein the closure element is supported, via said guide member, by asecond guide track comprising two laterally extending ribs facing eachother having a vertical component on a curve part connected to saidstationary part, wherein a part drivingly connects said slide to saidguide member, wherein said guide member is arranged in a guide headengaging the ribs of the first and second guide tracks, wherein theguide head is positioned on a pivotable arm.
 8. The open roofconstruction according to claim 7, wherein said curve part is a curveslide which can slide in said guide rail so as to effect the slidingmovement of the closure element, in such a manner that said slide andsaid curve slide move jointly during sliding movements of the closureelement and wherein the slide moves relative to the curve slide duringmovement in a vertical direction of the closure element.
 9. The openroof construction according to claim 8, wherein said curve slide isfitted with a first locking member for locking the curve slide inposition with respect to the guide rail during movement in verticaldirection of the closure element, and the vertically movable part of theslide is provided with a connecting member for interconnecting the slideand the curve slide during sliding movement of the closure element. 10.An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in the fixedroof, comprising: a stationary part for attachment to the roof, havingstationary guide rails on either side of the roof opening, with slidescomprising operating mechanisms, which are to be moved by an electricmotor, being present therein; and a closure element supported by theoperating mechanisms, which is adjustable between a closed position, inwhich it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which itreleases the roof opening at least partially, wherein the transmissionratio of the operating mechanism is variable along the path of movementof the slide, in such a manner that the load exerted on the electricmotor by the operating mechanism is at least substantially constantduring the entire movement of the slide.
 11. An open roof constructionfor a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof, comprising: astationary part for attachment to the roof, having stationary guiderails on either side of the roof opening; a slide slidable on each guiderail, each slide having an operating mechanism; a closure elementsupported by the operating mechanisms, which is adjustable between aclosed position, in which it closes the roof opening and an openposition, in which it releases the roof opening at least partially,wherein each operating mechanism comprises a curve plate attached to theclosure element and having a guide track with which a guide memberconnected to the slide is at least partially in engagement, wherein saidslide includes a height-adjustable part which is in engagement with saidslide, said closure element and an element held fixed to said stationarypart in three points, wherein the points of the height-adjustable partwhere it is in engagement with the closure element and the stationarypart are positioned at least substantially inline with each other, in adirection substantially perpendicular to the closure element.
 12. Theopen roof construction according to claim 11, wherein two guide membersare formed on said height-adjustable part, wherein a first guide memberis in engagement with a guide track formed in said curve plate on saidclosure element and a second guide member is engagement with a guidetrack on the element attached to said stationary part and wherein thetwo guide members are positioned at least substantially inline with eachother, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the closureelement.
 13. An open roof construction for a vehicle having an openingin the fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part for attachment to theroof, having stationary guide rails on either side of the roof opening;a slide slidable on each guide rail, each slide having an operatingmechanism; and a closure element supported by the operating mechanisms,which is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes theroof opening and an open position, in which it releases the roof openingat least partially, wherein each operating mechanism comprises a curveplate attached to the closure element and having a first guide trackwith which a guide member connected to the slide is in engagement, atleast along part of the path of movement of the closure element, whereinthe slide includes a height-adjustable part which is equipped with theguide member, and which is also in engagement with a second guide trackhaving a vertical component in a curve part connected to the stationarypart, wherein a second guide member is formed on the height-adjustablepart, which second guide member is in engagement with the second guidetrack in the curve part, wherein a line connecting the two guide membersextends substantially perpendicular to the closure element in allpositions thereof, and wherein the guide tracks have substantially thesame length.
 14. An open roof construction for a vehicle having anopening in the fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part for attachmentto the roof, having stationary guide rails on either side of the roofopening; a slide slidable on each guide rail, each slide having anoperating mechanism; and a closure element supported by the operatingmechanisms, which is adjustable between a closed position, in which itcloses the roof opening and an open position, in which it releases theroof opening at least partially, wherein each operating mechanismcomprises a curve plate attached to the closure element and having afirst guide track with which a guide member connected to the slide is inengagement, at least along part of the path of movement of the closureelement, wherein the slide includes a height-adjustable part which isequipped with the guide member, and which is also in engagement with asecond guide track having a vertical component in a curve part connectedto the stationary part, wherein an electric motor is provided fordriving each slide, and wherein at least one guide track extends in sucha manner that the load exerted on the electric motor by the operatingmechanism will be at least substantially constant during the entiremovement of the slide.
 15. An open roof construction for a vehiclehaving an opening in the fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part forattachment to the roof, having at least one stationary guide railextending along the roof opening; a slide slidable on the guide rail andhaving an operating mechanism; and a closure element supported by theoperating mechanism, which is adjustable between a closed position, inwhich it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which itreleases the roof opening at least partially, wherein said operatingmechanism comprises a curve plate attached to the closure element andhaving a first guide track with which a guide member connected to theslide is in engagement, at least over part of the path of movement ofthe closure element, wherein the closure element is supported, via saidguide member, by a second guide track having a vertical component on acurve part connected to said stationary part, wherein a part drivinglyconnects said slide to said guide member, and wherein said closureelement pivots about a front horizontal pivot member, wherein said partis an arm which is capable of pivoting movement about a horizontal pivoton said slide, and wherein an angle between a line through said fronthorizontal pivot member and engagement of said guide member with saidfirst guide track and a line through said horizontal pivot on said slideand engagement of said guide member with said first guide track is anacute angle.
 16. The open roof construction according to claim 15,wherein at least the guide track of the curve part is a double guidetrack.
 17. The open roof construction according to claim 15, whereinsaid guide tracks are in the form of laterally extending ribs, on whichsaid guide members engage.
 18. The open roof construction according toclaim 15, wherein at least one tensioning member is provided, whichtensioning member spring-biases said guide members with respect to theirassociated guide tracks.
 19. An open roof construction for a vehiclehaving an opening in the fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part forattachment to the roof, having stationary guide rails on either side ofthe roof opening and slidable slides with operating mechanisms; aclosure means supported by the operating mechanisms, which is adjustablebetween a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and anopen position, in which it releases the roof opening at least partially,wherein each operating mechanism comprises a curve plate attached to theclosure means and having a guide track with which a guide memberconnected to the slide is at least partially in engagement, wherein saidguide track comprises laterally extending ribs, on which said guidemember engages, by means of cams engaging on either side thereof,wherein said curve plate is made of metal sheet, which is bent-over onthe bottom side so as to form a flange, around which a plastic has beenapplied.